The Digital Switch

One year and counting until the "digital switch. "If you don't know what that is, then listen up, or you might end up watching snow. Next year, the Federal government is forcing all TV stations to switch to a digital signal, and if you don't have the right television or converter, you won't be able to see Jack. (Jack Benny, that is.) So do you need to rush out and buy a new television? Or will a converter kit work? What if you have cable? Or satellite TV? And how much will all this cost? On the next CNX, we'll sort it all out for you, and give you the digital low-down. Everything you need to know about the Big Switch.

Green Watch: TV Recycling

What to do with your old television when you make the "digital leap". The countdown is on for the so-called "digital switch," when every major broadcaster across the nation will cease analog transmissions and move to a digital-only signal. There's a lot of confusion about what to do, and a lot of options. But if you have an analog television that uses a traditional antenna, such as rabbit ears, you'll either have to buy a converter box, sign up for digital cable, or purchase a new digital TV.

So suppose you opt for door number three and decide to ditch your old boob tube and "go digital." What should you do with your old TV? You can't just leave it on the curb for the garbage collector, or chuck it in the dumpster. In the city of Seattle and all of King County, they won't even let you take it to a transfer station.

Why not? Because televisions are virtual mini-mines of dangerous metals. Just about every TV contains a host of toxic substances that's awful for the environment. A single television has anywhere from four to eight pounds of lead inside, as well as mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants. When dumped in the landfill, these toxins can leach into the ecosystem, contaminating groundwater and animals.

The Environmental Protection Agency says electronic devices, including televisions, are the single largest source of heavy metals in our nation's landfills.

Televisions MUST be recycled, which means you must take it to a recycling center. One such place is Total Reclaim in Seattle, where they recycle TVs, computers, monitors and just about any electronic device. Workers at Total Reclaim carefully dismantle old televisions, separating the screen and CRT (cathode ray tube) from the plastic housing. Then they strip out electrical circuit boards, wires and other metals. The raw parts are then processed and sent on for recycling or reuse.

Separating the screen and CRT is the most important part. The majority of lead in televisions is in the CRT. There's so much lead, both California and Massachusetts recently classified televisions as hazardous waste.

It will cost you money to recycle your TV. Total Reclaim and other recyclers generally charge by the pound, so it can be as little as $20 to $40 for a small television, or close to $100 for a larger console.

Fortunately, a new state law that takes effect next year will require manufacturers to provide recycling options at no charge to consumers. So if you buy a new TV, then years down the line you want to recycle it, it won't cost you any money.

Total Reclaim is part of a regional program called the Take It Back Network, a partnership among government agencies, retailers, repair shops, charitable organizations and recyclers that provides consumers with options for recycling certain wastes and their hazardous components in a safe and cost-effective manner.

For a list of participating agencies and organizations, or to find a recycler near you, go to www.takeitbacknetwork.org.

For everything you need to know about the Digital Switch, including whether you need to buy a new TV or not, just go to KCTS.org/digital. We've set up this special web page explaining the Digital Switch, what you need to do depending on the TV in your home, and the immediate benefits of going digital.

Roundtable

Democratic strategist Cathy Allen and Republican strategist Randy Pepple join Enrique Cerna to discuss this week's top stories including Obama's landslide victory over Clinton and Huckabee's allegation of an unfinished vote count in Washington.